Talking Points....
Connect Fellowship 6/24/2025
This week’s group discussion will focus on Dave Hinkley’s Father’s Day sermon titled “Generational Faithfulness.”
I. Generational Faithfulness
A. The media portrays fathers as bumbling, clumsy, clueless, but loveable side characters that are optional.
1. What makes a good father?
B. Establish a God Centered Home.
1. Deuteronomy 6:1-7 - “Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the Lord God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
2. What are things that we can do to make sure that our home is centered on God?
C. When you consistently lay down a foundation of truth early on in your children's lives, you not only set them up for a good start, but you prepare them for a faithful finish.
1. Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
2. Share with the group a time when you witnessed this truth in either your or your children’s life.
D. Pass down wisdom.
1. Proverbs 4:1-4 - Hear, my children, the instruction of a father,
And give attention to know understanding;
For I give you good doctrine:
Do not forsake my law.
When I was my father’s son,
Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
He also taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words;
Keep my commands, and live.
2. What bit of wisdom do you remember from your parents, that has helped you in your life?
E. Declare His works.
1. Psalms 78:1-8 - Give ear, O my people, to my law;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old,
Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children,
Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord,
And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.
For He established a testimony in Jacob,
And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers,
That they should make them known to their children;
That the generation to come might know them,
The children who would be born,
That they may arise and declare them to their children,
That they may set their hope in God,
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments;
And may not be like their fathers,
A stubborn and rebellious generation,
A generation that did not set its heart aright,
And whose spirit was not faithful to God.
2. What works has God done that you look to and declare during challenging times?
F. If instruction stops, drifting becomes inevitable.
1. Proverbs 19:27 - Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
2. How can we make sure that we always remain teachable regarding the ways of God?
G. Live with integrity.
1. Proverbs 20:7 - The righteous man walks in his integrity;
His children are blessed after him.
2. Our integrity does not just affect us; it shapes the future of our children. Our lives serve as a sermon, and our children are always watching and listening.
3. When we mess up in front of our kids, what should we do to teach them integrity?
H. Multiply the message.
1. 2 Timothy 2:1-2 - You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
2. 2 Timothy 3:10-11- But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
3. What things in our lives do we need to change, and what things should we reinforce to live a life worth following?
I. Reflection time.
1. What has stood out to you the most with this message of, “Generational Faithfulness?”
This week’s group discussion will focus on Dave Hinkley’s Father’s Day sermon titled “Generational Faithfulness.”
I. Generational Faithfulness
A. The media portrays fathers as bumbling, clumsy, clueless, but loveable side characters that are optional.
1. What makes a good father?
B. Establish a God Centered Home.
1. Deuteronomy 6:1-7 - “Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you may multiply greatly as the Lord God of your fathers has promised you—‘a land flowing with milk and honey.’
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
“And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
2. What are things that we can do to make sure that our home is centered on God?
C. When you consistently lay down a foundation of truth early on in your children's lives, you not only set them up for a good start, but you prepare them for a faithful finish.
1. Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.
2. Share with the group a time when you witnessed this truth in either your or your children’s life.
D. Pass down wisdom.
1. Proverbs 4:1-4 - Hear, my children, the instruction of a father,
And give attention to know understanding;
For I give you good doctrine:
Do not forsake my law.
When I was my father’s son,
Tender and the only one in the sight of my mother,
He also taught me, and said to me:
“Let your heart retain my words;
Keep my commands, and live.
2. What bit of wisdom do you remember from your parents, that has helped you in your life?
E. Declare His works.
1. Psalms 78:1-8 - Give ear, O my people, to my law;
Incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings of old,
Which we have heard and known,
And our fathers have told us.
We will not hide them from their children,
Telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord,
And His strength and His wonderful works that He has done.
For He established a testimony in Jacob,
And appointed a law in Israel,
Which He commanded our fathers,
That they should make them known to their children;
That the generation to come might know them,
The children who would be born,
That they may arise and declare them to their children,
That they may set their hope in God,
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments;
And may not be like their fathers,
A stubborn and rebellious generation,
A generation that did not set its heart aright,
And whose spirit was not faithful to God.
2. What works has God done that you look to and declare during challenging times?
F. If instruction stops, drifting becomes inevitable.
1. Proverbs 19:27 - Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
2. How can we make sure that we always remain teachable regarding the ways of God?
G. Live with integrity.
1. Proverbs 20:7 - The righteous man walks in his integrity;
His children are blessed after him.
2. Our integrity does not just affect us; it shapes the future of our children. Our lives serve as a sermon, and our children are always watching and listening.
3. When we mess up in front of our kids, what should we do to teach them integrity?
H. Multiply the message.
1. 2 Timothy 2:1-2 - You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
2. 2 Timothy 3:10-11- But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
3. What things in our lives do we need to change, and what things should we reinforce to live a life worth following?
I. Reflection time.
1. What has stood out to you the most with this message of, “Generational Faithfulness?”